TASE Weekly Review 3-7 February 2013

 
 
3-7 February 2013
 
 
 
Trading on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) during the first week of February ended higher for all leading TASE's indices.
 
 
                                      
TA-25
The TA-25 index increased 2.8% over the week, bringing year-to-date increase to 2.1%.
 
TA-100
The TA-100 index increased 3.3% over the week, bringing year-to-date increase to 3.1%.
 
 
TA-Insurance
The TA-Insurance index stood out and increased 8.1% over the week, bringing return since the beginning of the year to 4.8%.
Government Bonds
The Government of Israel floated US $0.4 billion bonds on the local market this past week bringing the year-to-date total of government bond issues to US $2.0 billion.
 
Foreign Investors
Figures released by the Bank of Israel indicate that in January 2013 foreign investors acquired a net US $300 million each shares and government bonds. This follows 2012 during which net investment in TASE-traded shares came to US $430 million and net liquidation of government bond investments amounted to US$ 230 million.
Corporate 
Bonds
Two companies raised US $135 million in public bond offerings. Since the beginning of the year the business sector raised US $1.9 billion by bonds.
 
Unemployment
Figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that the unemployment rate increased from 6.8% in November 2012 to 6.9% in December. On average the unemployment rate in 2012 came to 6.9% as opposed to 6.5% in 2011.
 
 
Sector Indices
 
WEEK
YTD 2013
TA Bluetech-50
2.4%
2.7%
TA Banks
5.3%    
3.6%
TA Real Estate-15
3.2%
5.2%
 
Foreign Exchange
 
WEEK
YTD
2013
Dollar/NIS
0.1%
-1.2%
Euro/NIS
-0.5%
1.7%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Facts & Figures
The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange features in January 2013:
·   533 companies listing equities.
·   440 index-tracking products.
·   34 series of government bonds.
·   642 series of corporate bonds.
·   1,290 mutual funds.
·   Market Cap. (US$ billions)
o    Equities - 163
o    Government bonds – 122
o    Corporate bonds - 99
About TASE
Established in September 1935, the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange is Israel’s sole securities exchange, offering an increasingly sophisticated range of products to investors, including equity, corporate bonds, treasury bills and notes, index products and derivatives.
International
In recent years, TASE has enhanced its international presence, signing Memoranda of Understanding with the London Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, NYSE-Euronext the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Toronto Stock Exchange.